Ipod touch in Europe

It is just like connecting your laptop to wi-fi. If it is free then you don't have to pay with the iPod either but there may be a password or network that has to be paid for.

Kristen, I was in Europe in April and May and found that in most "public areas", there was a fee for using Wi-Fi (one example was the Starbucks in Munich train station). One of the Hotels I stayed at in Positano (Italy) had Wi-Fi, but again there was a fee. However, many "private" facilties such as Hotels and B&B's seem to increasingly offer free Wi-Fi for their guests (I found this in several locations in the U.K.).

Wherever Wi-Fi is available, you should be able to use the I-Pod Touch to access the net (using the small screen isn't too bad, once you get used to it).

Happy travels!

Ken's expereince was the same as mine with the Ipod Touch. Some places the WiFi was free others there was a fee. The screen is actually quite easy to use after a few moments of practice. For me I am normally using Windows software so the Mac software takes getting used to more than the screen.

With a purchase you can get 30 minutes of free WiFi at most all Starbucks- ask the cashier for a voucher. Most all McDonalds offer Wifi at very reasonable rates. Some locations give you 30 minutes for free, no purchase required. At other locations you must make a purchase, there is a special password printed at he bottom of your receipt. When in Amsterdam head to the new public library, while it doesn't offer WiFi, it has no less than 300 pc's and macs all connected to the internet. The terminals on the first floor are usually occupied, but just go to the upper floors. Be sure to check out the La Place cafeteria on the top floor!

At a hostel in Brugge I was talking to a woman who has been traveling around Europe for 5 months and she had her Ipod touch. She said it is the best thing she could have brought on her trip. The hostel we were at had 2 computers and wifi but some people are rude and stay on the computers for 2 hours when people are waiting, so she was saying she has not had a problem getting on line with the Itouch. She actually made me want one.

Thanks for all the information. Where exactly is that new library in Amsterdam located?

The library is near Centraal Station right next to the Stedelijk CS modern art museum. Rick has a description for it in his guidebook and it is listed on one of the maps.

I just returned from a Rick Steves tour of Germany, Austria and Switzerland and traveled with an iPod Touch. All but one of the hotels had wi-fi access, and only one of the hotels charged a fee. I was able to write e-mails off line during breaks in the day or while we were on the bus and then send them when connected. I found I liked using the "note" feature to write my travel updates. It was great. I had downloaded and experienced my first audio book, and brought some family and home town photos to share with other tour members. I'm glad to hear about Starbucks and McDonalds having wi-fi access.